The World’s First Tasty Seedless Tomato
By Vanessa Richins
I guess I’m just a big kid.
I love to place tomatoes in my mouth and squeeze until the seeds pop out.
There’s just something so amusing about doing this.
However, I wouldn’t be able to do that with one of Burpee’s new tomatoes for the 2009 season. Dubbed “Sweet Seedless,” it is the first tasty seedless tomato.
It took them 6 years to perfect the Sweet Seedless. In previous experiments, plant breeders had been able to produce tomatoes that were seedless, but they didn’t taste good, or have a good texture.
In addition to being tasty and seedless with a good texture, the Sweet Seedless is resistant to diseases and hardy.
This may bring a question to your mind. If the Sweet Seedless is indeed seedless (a tongue twister!), then how do you get the seeds to grow them? The answer lies in genetics. Through careful breeding, scientists can produce a plant type called a triploid. The fruit produced from these triploid seeds will be sterile and not produce mature seeds.
So why would you even really need seedless tomatoes? Evidently, some people have bad digestive reactions after eating tomato seeds. With Sweet Seedless, they would be able to enjoy tomatoes as much as we do. It would also make it easier for those who cook with tomatoes and prefer to take the seeds out.
Look for the Sweet Seedless to be featured in Burpee’s 2009 catalog. You can order your own copy.
Will you be buying “Sweet Seedless” seeds next year?
September 21st, 2008 at 10:47 am
Aaaaagghhh!!! Yet another blow against seed-savers and self-sufficiency! As if hybrids weren’t enough. Bastards. But thanks, Vanessa, for alerting us to this new development. I’m sure it will be met by raves from all sides. Sigh…
September 21st, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Sigh, I know….but we can think about the people who now get to enjoy tomatoes when they couldn’t before? That’s one helpful trait. But yes…more hybridization. Pfffft.
October 2nd, 2008 at 2:31 pm
My father’s favorite food is the tomato. Unfortunately, he was recently diagnosed with diverticulitis (sp?), and foods with small seeds are on the foods to avoid list as you mention in your article. He will be pleased with seedless tomatos.
October 2nd, 2008 at 10:51 pm
I too suffer from diverticoulitis . How and where do I get
these small wonders ? Thankyou….
October 23rd, 2008 at 3:40 pm
You should be able to order seeds from Burpee this year. For some of their tomatoes they also sell plants, but I don’t know if this will be one of them.